Timeline of the 1997 Atlantic hurricane season

Last updated

Timeline of the
1997 Atlantic hurricane season
1997 Atlantic hurricane season summary map.png
Season summary map
Season boundaries
First system formedJune 1, 1997
Last system dissipatedOctober 17, 1997
Strongest system
Name Erika
Maximum winds125 mph (205 km/h)
(1-minute sustained)
Lowest pressure946 mbar (hPa; 27.94 inHg)
Longest lasting system
NameErika
Duration12.75 days
Storm articles
Other years
1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999

The 1997 Atlantic hurricane season consisted of the events that occurred in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation over the Atlantic Ocean north of the equator. The official bounds of each Atlantic hurricane season are dates that conventionally delineate the period each year during which tropical cyclones tend to form in the basin according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), beginning on June 1 and ending on November 30. However, tropical cyclogenesis is possible at any time of the year. [1] The first system was a subtropical storm that formed on June 1; the final system, Tropical Storm Grace, dissipated on October 17.

Contents

Though below average overall, [nb 1] the 1997 season had an unusually busy start. Through the end of July, six tropical or subtropical depressions developed, of which five became named storms [nb 2] and two strengthened further into hurricanes. At the time, Hurricane Danny was the earliest-forming fifth named storm in the Atlantic basin. [3] [4] After Danny dissipated, the season was exceptionally quiet. There was no tropical cyclone activity for the entire month of August, typically one of the basin's peak months – this was the first time since 1961, [5] and did not happen again until 2022. [6] Only three more systems formed for the remainder of the season: Hurricane Erika in September, which was the only Atlantic major hurricane in 1997; [nb 3] and two weak tropical storms in October. [5]

This timeline documents tropical cyclone formations, strengthening, weakening, landfalls, extratropical transitions, and dissipations during the season. It includes information that was not released throughout the season, meaning that data from post-storm reviews by the National Hurricane Center, such as a storm that was not initially warned upon, has been included.

The time stamp for each event is first stated using Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the 24-hour clock where 00:00 = midnight UTC. [7] The NHC uses both UTC and the time zone where the center of the tropical cyclone is currently located. The time zones utilized (east to west) prior to 2020 were: Atlantic, Eastern, and Central. [8] In this timeline, the respective area time is included in parentheses. Additionally, figures for maximum sustained winds and position estimates are rounded to the nearest 5 units (miles, or kilometers), following National Hurricane Center practice. Direct wind observations are rounded to the nearest whole number. Atmospheric pressures are listed to the nearest millibar and nearest hundredth of an inch of mercury.

Timeline of events

Hurricane Erika (1997)Hurricane Danny (1997)Saffir-Simpson scaleTimeline of the 1997 Atlantic hurricane season

June

June 1

Track map of the unnumbered subtropical storm 1997 Atlantic unnamed subtropical storm track.png
Track map of the unnumbered subtropical storm

June 2

June 30

July

July 1

Track map of Tropical Storm Ana Ana 1997 track.png
Track map of Tropical Storm Ana

July 2

July 3

July 4

July 11

July 12

Satellite image of Hurricane Bill at peak intensity on July 12 Hurricane Bill Jul 12 1997 1515Z.jpg
Satellite image of Hurricane Bill at peak intensity on July 12

July 13

July 14

Satellite image of Tropical Storm Claudette near peak intensity on July 14 Claudette 1997-07-14 1545Z.png
Satellite image of Tropical Storm Claudette near peak intensity on July 14

July 16

July 17

July 18

July 19

Satellite image of Hurricane Danny near peak intensity over Mobile Bay on July 19 Danny 1997-07-19 1445Z.png
Satellite image of Hurricane Danny near peak intensity over Mobile Bay on July 19

July 20

July 24

July 25

Track map of Hurricane Danny Danny 1997 track.png
Track map of Hurricane Danny

July 26

August

September

September 3

Track map of Hurricane Erika Erika 1997 track.png
Track map of Hurricane Erika

September 4

September 7

September 8

September 9

Satellite image of Hurricane Erika near peak intensity on September 9 Erika 1997-09-09 1100Z.jpg
Satellite image of Hurricane Erika near peak intensity on September 9

September 10

September 11

September 12

September 16

October

October 4

Track map of Tropical Storm Fabian Fabian 1997 track.png
Track map of Tropical Storm Fabian

October 5

October 7

October 8

Satellite image of the precursor to Tropical Storm Grace on October 15 Tropical Storm Grace Oct 15 1997 1915Z.jpg
Satellite image of the precursor to Tropical Storm Grace on October 15

October 16

October 17

November

November 30

Notes

  1. The 1997 Atlantic hurricane season produced eight tropical or subtropical storms, with three becoming hurricanes and one of those further strengthening into a major hurricane. At the time, an average season comprised ten tropical storms, six hurricanes, and two major hurricanes. [2]
  2. This includes the unnamed subtropical storm.
  3. A major hurricane is an Atlantic or Pacific hurricane that reaches Category 3 or higher on the five-level Saffir–Simpson scale, with maximum sustained winds of at least 111 mph (179 km/h). [1]
  4. The Atlantic hurricane database (HURDAT) maintains Tropical Storm Bill as a distinct tropical cyclone at 06:00 UTC on July 13. [3]
  5. Despite its name, Tropical Depression Four was the fifth tropical cyclone of the season, [3] as the subtropical storm was not recognized until November. [9]
  6. Despite its name, Tropical Depression Five was the sixth tropical cyclone of the season, [3] as the subtropical storm was not recognized until November. [9]
  7. While the NHC's Preliminary Report on Tropical Storm Grace considers the system to have been extratropical at 12:00 UTC on October 17, HURDAT lists Grace as a tropical depression at that time. [3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Tropical Cyclone Climatology". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on January 5, 2025. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
  2. Gray, William M.; Landsea, Christopher W.; Knaff, John A.; Mielke, Jr., Paul W.; Berry, Kenneth J. (December 6, 1996). Extended Range Forecast of Atlantic Seasonal Hurricane Activity for 1997 (PDF) (Report). Fort Collins, Colorado: Colorado State University. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 2, 2026. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. April 4, 2025.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. Sosnowski, Alex (June 25, 2020). "Forecasters Monitoring Potential for Atlantic Tropical Development Around July Fourth". AccuWeather . Ferguson Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on December 7, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  5. 1 2 Rappaport, Edward N. (September 1, 1999). "Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1997". Monthly Weather Review . 127 (9). American Meteorological Society: 2012–2026. Bibcode:1999MWRv..127.2012R. doi: 10.1175/1520-0493(1999)127<2012:AHSO>2.0.CO;2 .
  6. Klotzback, Philip J.; Bell, Michael M.; DesRosiers, Alexander J. (November 28, 2022). Summary of 2022 Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Activity and Verification of Authors' Seasonal and Two-Week Forecasts (PDF) (Report). Fort Collins, Colorado: Colorado State University. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 25, 2024. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  7. "What is UTC or GMT Time?". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center . Retrieved February 2, 2026.
  8. "Update on National Hurricane Center Products and Services for 2020" (PDF). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. April 20, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 27, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Beven, Jack; Mayfield, Max (November 12, 1997). Preliminary Report: Unnumbered Subtropical Storm (PDF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 29, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Lawrence, Miles B. (August 4, 1997). Preliminary Report: Tropical Storm Ana (PDF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 4, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Avila, Lixion A. (August 5, 1997). Preliminary Report: Hurricane Bill (PDF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 4, 2024. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rappaport, Edward N. (August 13, 1997). Preliminary Report: Tropical Storm Claudette (PDF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 30, 2024. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pasch, Richard J. (August 21, 1997). Preliminary Report: Hurricane Danny (PDF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
  14. 1 2 3 Mayfield, Max (July 28, 1997). Tropical Depression Five 17–19 July 1997 (PDF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 4, 2024. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Lawrence, Miles B. (October 24, 1997). Preliminary Report: Hurricane Erika (PDF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 30, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  16. 1 2 3 4 Avila, Lixion A. (October 28, 1997). Preliminary Report: Tropical Storm Fabian (PDF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 6, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  17. 1 2 Rappaport, Edward N. (November 5, 1997). Preliminary Report: Tropical Storm Grace (PDF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 2, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2025.